The Dillard’s Clearance store at the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano is closing, marking the second anchor store departure for the mall.
PLANO, Texas — Another major retailer is preparing to exit The Shops at Willow Bend, adding to growing questions about the future of the Plano mall and its potential redevelopment.
A sign posted at the Dillard’s Clearance Center this week announced that the long-time anchor store is closing, thanking customers “for the memories” and directing them to other North Texas locations.
Dillard’s has been part of the shopping center since it opened nearly 25 years ago. Its departure comes on the heels of Neiman Marcus’ decision to withdraw from the property as well.
Developers of the Shops at Willow Bend are working to transform the mall into a mixed-use development. Over 60 stores will likely close, and the whole southern half of the mall will be demolished, WFAA previously reported. Centennial owns the property and has a vision for a live/work/play kind of space.
The company did not respond to a request for comment.
The closures unfold as the Dallas Stars continue evaluating the Willow Bend site as a possible location for a new arena, according to reporting by The Dallas Morning News. Sources familiar with those discussions said the 107-acre property on West Park Boulevard has become a leading option for the NHL franchise, which has also explored sites in Frisco, The Colony, Arlington and Fort Worth ahead of its lease expiration at the American Airlines Center in 2031.